Every Note Played
by Lisa Genova
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Pub Date Mar 20 2018 | Archive Date Apr 13 2018
Simon & Schuster Canada | Gallery/Scout Press
Description
“Sometimes it’s easier to tell truth in fiction…And she tells it with heart and hope.” —NPR
“Her juxtaposition of scientific detail with compassionate, heartfelt storytelling is unparalleled.” —Bookreporter
“Every Note Played will grip and gut you.” —The Boston Globe
From neuroscientist and New York Times bestselling author of Still Alice comes a powerful exploration of regret, forgiveness, freedom, and what it means to be alive.
An accomplished concert pianist, Richard received standing ovations from audiences all over the world in awe of his rare combination of emotional resonance and flawless technique. Every finger of his hands was a finely calibrated instrument, dancing across the keys and striking each note with exacting precision. That was eight months ago.
Richard now has ALS, and his entire right arm is paralyzed. His fingers are impotent, still, devoid of possibility. The loss of his hand feels like a death, a loss of true love, a divorce—his divorce.
He knows his left arm will go next.
Three years ago, Karina removed their framed wedding picture from the living room wall and hung a mirror there instead. But she still hasn’t moved on. Karina is paralyzed by excuses and fear, stuck in an unfulfilling life as a piano teacher, afraid to pursue the path she abandoned as a young woman, blaming Richard and their failed marriage for all of it.
When Richard becomes increasingly paralyzed and is no longer able to live on his own, Karina becomes his reluctant caretaker. As Richard’s muscles, voice, and breath fade, both he and Karina try to reconcile their past before it’s too late.
Poignant and powerful, Every Note Played is a masterful exploration of redemption and what it means to find peace inside of forgiveness.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781476717807 |
| PRICE | CA$32.99 (CAD) |
| PAGES | 320 |
Featured Reviews
Ann S, Reviewer
First, I would like to thank NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Lisa Genova for the opportunity to read this ARC of Every Note Played. Once again, Lisa Genova has a written a novel about a debilitating illness that the average “joe” can understand. This novel was written in two different perspectives. The perspective of the patient (Richard) and the caregiver (Richard’s ex-wife, Karina). Richard is world-renowned concert pianist, diagnosed with ALS, and his story is in the first person as he goes through the process of losing his mobility and the inability to play classical music. It was sad and heartwrenching to read the progress of the disease through Richard’s eyes. Karina, his ex-wife, who is still angry with Richard, for cheating on her, and being more dedicated to his career than his family, agrees to let Richard move back into the family home as he is no longer able to care for himself.
While the story is sad, it is also about second chances, regrets, love, redemption and courage. Lisa Genova wrote an unforgettable story about the hardship of caregivers, the emotional toll on the family of the patient a as they watch their loved ones go through ALS and the courage of the patient. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and could not put it down, just as I have enjoyed every book that Ms. Genova has written.
Girl W, Reviewer
A special thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada, and Gallery/Scout Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This stunning, raw, heartbreaking glimpse into the world of ALS from Lisa Genova will leave you emotionally spent and in awe of those living with this cruel disease, and in awe of their loved ones and the real-life superheroes that are their caregivers.
Richard is a renowned pianist that sells out concerts all over the world, a fine-tuned instrument that executes his performances with precision and passion. Fast forward eight months—Richard has been diagnosed with ALS and no longer has the use of his right arm. The loss of his hand is like the loss of a true love, like his own divorce from Karina. It is only a matter of time before it is his left hand, and the rest of his body.
Karina hasn't moved on from her divorce from Richard, in fact she is stuck in limbo in an unfulfilling life as a piano teacher. It is easy for her to blame Richard for where she has ended up and for the dissolution of the marriage.
When the disease progresses to the point that Richard is fully paralyzed, Karina reluctantly steps in to care for him. He moves back in with Karina, in the home that they once shared with their daughter, Grace, who is away at university. As Richard becomes a shell of a man he once was, the couple is forced to face their regrets head on and learn what it means to forgive.
What I love about Genova's books is her ability to educate her reader, not only in matters of the heart and relationships, but about actual neurological diseases and conditions that most would not be familiar with unless they were affected personally. She doesn't "dumb-it-down", instead she elevates her reader and empowers them with knowledge. It is this knowledge that makes her stories rich, not only in information, but in character development, yet doesn't bog down the narrative. Her writing is poignant, sharp, and captivating. Lisa, congratulations on this book, and your continued success—it is always a pleasure to read and review your work.
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